University of Hyderabad
Centre for English Language Studies
International Conference on the Historiography of English Education
in India
9-10 February 2016
Coordinator: Pingali Sailaja
This conference aims to bring together scholars who are working in the
area of the historiography of English language education in India. Although
the primary focus will be on English in India, papers on other related
aspects are also welcome as indicated below.
The history of English in India begins as early as the 17th Century almost
immediately after the first British traders came to the country. English was
used by interpreters initially and then gradually spread to others. Formal
English education began in early 18th Century. The language spread in
India through educational policy and missionary activity. Importantly, the
British were not the only Europeans in India who encouraged and
imparted education. There were other, earlier European endeavours,
particularly by the Portuguese. The British continued the process and their
efforts were modelled on and departed from previous efforts.
Several complex and contradictory factors impacted the establishment and
spread of English education in India—historical, political, social, religious,
literary, educational and so on. In different ways, these factors continue to
impact English education into present times. There are several attempts to
trace the events and record the spread of English in India, yet the works
are uncoordinated and tend to have narrow foci. There is much that still
needs to be researched and brought to light. There is a need to consolidate
the different findings and approaches to the field. In this conference,
scholars will share their findings and research work in progress. Papers
that have a narrow focus, such as a small region or a relevant work, are
welcome along with ones that have a broad sweep for presentation at the
conference. Since India in earlier times encompassed present-day Pakistan
and Bangladesh, papers with regional focus on those countries (until
1947) are also welcome. Two other areas that the conference is interested
in are: the influence of or divergences from other European education
systems in India (for example, Portuguese and French), and
methodological issues in conducting research in historiography work of
this kind.
The areas in which presentations are invited are:
 History of ELT in India
 Representation of the historicity of English education in different
types of texts
 Historiography of English language teaching and testing approaches
 Methodological aspects of historiographic research
 Other European languages in India and their educational policies
and practices
 Any other area related to the overall theme of the conference.
Abstracts of 250 words are invited on the above theme. They will be blind
reviewed.
Last date to receive abstracts: 31 October 2015
Notification of acceptance: 30 November 2015
Abstracts to be sent to <celsupe@gmail.com>
If you have any questions, please contact <sailajapingali@yahoo.com>
Pingali Sailaja
Professor
Centre for English Language Studies
School of Humanities
University of Hyderabad
Dr. C. R. Rao Road
Gachi Bowli
Hyderabad 500 046.
India.
Phone: 91-40-23133419